Presenter and auctioneer Rick Miller is widely known for emceeing and auctioneering hundreds of benefits, raising millions of dollars for Tulsa-area nonprofits. Located in Tulsa, Rick has been the chosen auctioneer for many nonprofits and charitable organizations for the last decade. He understands what it takes to make your event a success. Rick has now extended his same enthusiasm and expertise into a simple approach to an online marketplace for donors to purchase goods and services while supporting the nonprofit causes they love.

This presentation will open your eyes to the innovative way to cash in on monthly revenue through the use of local and national merchants with the power of group buying. That's right, a way for your established donor base to support your cause while purchasing goods and services they already use. This new service is now being rolled out in Northeast Oklahoma. Don't miss out on the chance to learn how to put your database to good use and help them get discounts as well. The importance of live auctions during annual events will be discussed as well.

Making Each Rung Count: How to Build a Donor Ladder that Goes from Annual Gift to Ultimate Gift

In an increasingly competitive fundraising world, how do you find, cultivate and grow donors to advance your mission? In this session we will define and delineate the best way to construct each rung so that you may build a successful and holistic fund development program - one that moves the needle for your institution and your donors; producing ultimate gifts and increasing life-time value. This session is set at the beginner/intermediate experience level and is aimed at small to medium-sized shops.

Keep track of our donors but don't know if we are using the data correctly

Wayne King is a consultant, speaker, author and fundraising professional who has a 40+ year career in the nonprofit sector. Currently Major Donor Manager at John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa, Wayne has served in leadership positions for a variety of organizations. Some of his former roles include: President & CEO of the West Virginia University Foundation, President of Mercy Foundation, Senior Vice President for Development at the Oklahoma State University Foundation, and Vice-President for Development at Southern Wesleyan University. Wayne has developed strategic plans, directed operations, spearheaded endowment and planned giving growth, planned and executed capital campaigns, and managed donor development programs. In each of his positions he has expanded the donor base of his organizations and increased total donations. Wayne is looking forward to speaking in Bartlesville where he was Vice-President for Development at Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University) in the 1980's.

Giving Tuesday Raises over $46 Million for U.S. Nonprofits

Did your nonprofit organization participate in #GivingTuesday on December 2, 2014?

If so, your organization was part of a global movement that was fueled by social media and on-line giving campaigns. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, donations on the latest Giving Tuesday surged to an estimated $45.7-million, more than double the amount raised in 2012, when the event was created. Sheila Herrling, Case Foundation senior vice president for social innovation states, "The data shows this year we've moved from an idea to a campaign to a traditional day. It's taken root and it's going to be a national day. The biggest thing for us is it directly challenges Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where you have analysts lining up looking at the numbers as a gauge of the health of our economy. What if, as a nation, we focused that kind of attention on giving and we wanted that to be our identity?"

Many Tulsa nonprofits took advantage of the #GivingTuesday and used it as part of their end of the year fundraising campaigns. Check out the Tulsa World's article here.

#GivingTuesday 2015 will be on December 1, 2015. Read the articles about 2014's Giving Tuesday here and here.

Member Spotlight

Janice Edmiston, CFRE

Janice Edmiston, CFRE, has a 30-year

Janice Edmiston, CFRE

relationship with the AFP Eastern Oklahoma Chapter, having joined within a year of its formation. She was one of the first seven fundraisers in Tulsa to pass the CFRE exam. Janice has served on our Chapter's Board of Directors, chaired or co-chaired the Program, Conference, and Long Range Planning Committees, has been a presenter at the AFP national conference, and has personally mentored many individuals.

Like many in the profession, Janice's career as a professional fundraiser began accidentally when she successfully solicited a $150 research grant to The University of Texas Provost. Since that time, she has raised over $10 million for organizations including the Indian Health Care Resource Center, The University of Tulsa, Children's Medical Center, Child Abuse Network, and most recently OSU Medical Center where she currently serves as the Foundation Director. Janice's professional accomplishments are vast and incredibly impressive. She has been recognized at the state and local level, including being named Outstanding Fundraising Executive this past November by our chapter on National Philanthropy Day.

Janice has been married to her husband Ceasar for 25 years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and traveling, and is an active participant in her American Indian culture. Janice's knowledge, experience, and passion have enriched our chapter immensely, and we thank her for her service to our organization and the Tulsa community.

*Member Spotlight is a new addition to our newsletter that will feature the professional and personal accomplishments of our members. If you would like to be featured or have an AFP colleague featured, please email Taylor Shorb at tdavis@crsok.org.

AFP Eastern OK's Presenting Business Partner

Tulsa Run Beneficiary Applications Open!

The 2015 Tulsa Federal Credit Union Tulsa Run will take place on Saturday, October 31, 2015, and applications are now open for charity beneficiaries. Six beneficiaries will be selected- five at the $1,000 level, and one at the $25,000 level. To see qualifications for applicants and access the application form, visit the Tulsa Run website here.

February is the month that we typically celebrate the love of our family and friends with Valentine's Day. I want to encourage us all in our profession to celebrate the love of being you, and promotion of self-care! Why? If we don't take care of ourselves, how can we possibly be at 100% in taking care of those loved ones in our lives and those of whom we serve? Self-care is different for each of us, it could be taking an hour or two alone and reading a book in a quiet spot. It could be getting a manicure or pedicure, or taking a yoga class. For me, it is enjoying a glass or two of wine with a friend and laughing. This month, take time and find something special to take of yourself and recharge your battery!

I hope to see many of you at this month's Tulsa luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 5th featuring guest speaker, Rick Miller and his topic is "Funding Your Organization through Non-Traditional Fundraising." Our Bartlesville network had a very successful first luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 22nd as well, and we welcomed several new members from that venture. I am thankful for the 2015 AFP Chapter Board and our first retreat this past month in kicking off our busy year. We have filed our Accord paperwork out with International AFP headquarters and submitted our bid for being a 10 Star Gold Chapter this year as well as a nomination to be designated as a "Friends of Diversity" chapter. As you can see, we all need to practice self-care so we can care for one another as well as those that help to fund our organizations!

Congratulations to Counseling & Recovery Services of Oklahoma for becoming certified in the Sanctuary Model! CRSOK is the only community mental health center in Oklahoma, and one of three organizations in the state with this designation.

Build Your Bookshelf

Asking Without Fear: A Simple Guide to Connecting Donors with What Matters to Them Most

In his book Ask Without Fear, Marc A. Pitman explains how to take the fear out of fundraising and hearing that dreaded "no." Pitman also outlines a step-by-step method to building genuine relationships with donors and explains how to keep them connected to your organization, as well as points out the seven most common fundraising mistakes and how to avoid them. This is a great resource for those newer to the field of fundraising who may be allowing the fear of a rejection to hold them back from jumping in and making those asks!